Spit Bank and the Spithead Forts Solent Papers No.1
Complement A barrack block was built in the courtyard in 1941,
The peacetime complement allocated in the 1891 RE slightly improving living conditions for the eighty or so
records is one officer and twenty six other ranks men then stationed on the fort. It was difficult to relieve
consisting of two staff sergeants, and twenty-four the forts in really bad weather and leave could be
gunners. Hammock hooks to accommodate 131 men in delayed. The old Gosport-Portsmouth ferries, small
addition were fixed in the gallery and barrack rooms. In exposed boats, were used. In summer, swimming was
1931, 154 Battery (Territorial Army) was allocated to allowed round the fort, with a whaler or cutter alongside
were not hit. One danger was falling shrapnel from Preview
the fort - three officers and thirty two other ranks. There for safety - the currents can easily sweep a man out to
was one Battery Commander, one relief Battery sea. Otherwise exercise was limited to running round the
Commander and one Section Commander, five top of the fort and occasional cross-country runs on the
range-finding and instrument specialists, two Isle of Wight. An understanding N.C.O. might permit
telephonists, one Battery Commander’s assistant, special exercises in a pub in Ryde!
nineteen detachments for the guns, one gun storeman
and four detachments for anti-aircraft light machine Spit Bank Fort Armament Record
guns. The armament return for 1886 shows that fort was
equipped with nine 10-inch eighteen ton R.M.L. guns on
Life on Spit Bank Fort during the Second World the seaward side, with six 7-inch seven-ton R.M.L. guns
War facing the land. Two turrets would be fitted to the roof
When war broke out, the fort was manned by 154 equipped with two 12-inch thirty-five ton guns each. In
Battery, Royal Artillery, a Territorial Army unit made 1891 the fort is shown as armed with nine 12.5-inch
up of local men. Conditions during the first year were thirty-eight ton guns in place of the 10-inch guns in the
rough. The winter of 1939-40 was unusually cold. The armoured portion with four 7-inch guns in the masonry
fort gradually filled up with conscripts, adding to the portion. A committee under a Col.Montgomery
discomfort. Coal was brought on barges and had to be recommended that the old R.M.L. armament be declared
hauled on to the fort. All non-essential men were obsolete as they had a slow rate of fire and were
employed in this unpopular task. In October 1940, 154 expensive to man. Consequently, all the 7-inch and all
Battery became 123 Battery, 529 Coast Artillery but two of the 12.5-inch guns were removed in 1898,
Regiment. The fort’s role was to command the area leaving two as ‘Running Past’ guns, which meant that
behind Horse Sand and No Man’s Land and to monitor they would only be fired as a vessel passed the fort. At
shipping movements. All vessels had to display the the same time, two 4.7-inch quick-firing guns MkVI on
“Lights of the Day” and at night searchlights were Q.F.III mountings were fitted to the top of the fort and
trained on any ship not carrying this signal. The watch searchlights mounted to engage light torpedo boats
was stationed in the Battery Observation Post where attempting to enter Portsmouth harbour. The role of the
there was a small switchboard and telephone links to fort now being to counter light craft rather than heavy
Fire Control Headquarters and the other forts, as well as warships.
alarm bells to summon gun crews if need be. The
searchlight control switches were also here. A further committee the ‘Owen Committee’- made
further alterations to the armament and two 6-inch
Watch was kept for enemy aircraft, which might MkVII breech-loading guns were mounted in 1905.
parachute magnetic or acoustic mines into the sea. These remained until 1916, when they were removed
Minesweepers were constantly patrolling the Solent but and sent to Scotland. The 4.7-inch guns were removed in
a number of ships were lost - including some 1921 but were refitted for station practice in 1926. A
minesweepers. The Portsdown, a Southern Railway 6-inch B.L. gun was again fitted in 1931 and the
steamer, was mined a few hundred yards from Spit Bank 4.7-inch guns removed for the last time in 1938. During
Fort. During the blitz, the batteries near the Square the Second World War, twin Lewis guns were. fitted for
Tower and Southsea Castle were damaged, putting the Anti-aircraft use and a 40mm Bofors Light AA gun was
guns out of action and killing some men. The sea forts mounted in 1943 but removed in 1945. The 6-inch gun
was taken off the fort in 1948. Coast artillery was
nearby anti-aircraft guns, particularly those on Gilkicker disbanded in 1956 and the searchlights and generators
Point. removed and sold the following year.
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